Cultivator



Mmh a, man 1,61%,862

R. H. GRIFFITH CULTIVATOR Filed Watch 19, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

| wvg NI'OR EACH/912D 1 GRIFFITH;

March .8 192'? 1,619,862

R. H. GRIFFITH CUL'EIVATOR Filed March 19, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IA-r-rQ NEYg March 8 1927.

R. GRIFFITH QUL-TIVATOR Filed March 19, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN l/E' NTOR R/cHnRo H. iRlFFI m,

Arramvsva March 8 1927. 1,619,862

R. H. GRIFFITH.

CULTIVATOR F'i-led March 19, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR RICHARD H.GRIFFITH,

ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 3, 1927.

Uhll'liElE- STATES ldiltgdtt P 'l 'FFICE.

RICHARD H. GRIFFITH, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNQR TO THE OHIO GUL-TIVATOR COMPANY, OF BELLEVUE, 01-110, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

OULTIVATGR.

Application filed March 19, 1925. Serial No. 16,?02.

This invention relates to cultivators designed to cultivate the soil infields having growing crops of corn. V i

The first and major object of the invention is to so combine a seatframe with the cultivator beams thatavhen the beams are permitted by thedriver to yield to the lifting action of certain springs, which addsmaterial weight back of the axle, the seat frame will bodily moveforward to transfer a part of its weight and that of the driver 'topoints forward of the axle, whereby to counterbalance the weight addedat the rear of the axle by reason ofthe elevation of the beams; andwhereby also when the beams are placed by the driver in cultivatingposition, with their shovels in the ground sustaining their weight, thuslessening the weight on the machine at the rear ofthe aisle, the seatframe will then move rearwardy to restore the balance of the machine towhat may be regarded as normal, 7

A further object in carrying out this gen- 5 eral combination is toconnect the seat frame with the main frame by meansof swinging links,and to connect the rods by which the beams are suspended and lifted tosome of such links, and to provide springs fixedly anchored at one endand connected at their other end to such links to act on the beams in amanner to draw upward on them as the scat frame is moved forward and toyield and allow the beams to descend as the seatframe is movedrearwardly.

A further object is to combine with one pair of the seat frame links alever-like cross bar carrying a pivoted yoke to which thebeam-supporting rods are attached in a yielding manner, so that as thebeams are lifted by the rods the seat frame will be advanced forwardly;and vice versa, when the beams are lowered'the seat frame will be movedrearwardly.

And a still further object is to combine with the links, yoke and rodsarranged as above stated, springs attached at one end to the generalframe and at the other to extensions on the links so as to act in adirection to lift on the beams when they are to be elevated, and therebyto relieve the driver fromeXcessive labor in lifting the beams andforwardly advancing the seat frame.

To the above several objects may be addednumerous features of detailwhich will hereinafter appear in the body of the specification. i

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my cultivator as a whole. I v

Figure 2,is a perspective view thereof, looking from the rear toward'thefront of the machine. I Y

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the machine with the seat frame in itsforward position and the shovel beams in their elevated position, aswhen not in operation.

Figure 41- is a like view to Figure 3 but with the seat frame in itsrear position and the beams in their lowered or operating position withthe shovels acting in the ground.

Figure 5 is a detail view showing two of the seat frame links, the yokesupported thereby and beam lifting rods actuated by the yoke.

The numeral 1 indicates a pair of ground wheels mountedon the spindlesthat project from an arched axle 2. Secured to the axle is a generalframe in the nature of a 0 draft frame comprising side bars secured atone end to the arched axle as by clips 4, with a cross bar 5, and attheir forward ends to a draft pole 6 through a bolt 7. A cross bar 8 issecured to the side bars 3 of the draft frame and the pole is alsoattached to this cross barby means of a plate 9 through bolts 10, suchplate being secured tothe cross bar 8 by other bolts 11'.

To this cross bar 8 are attached brackets 12 which in turn are connectedwith the arch through brace rods 13 and which carry a cross shaft 14; onwhich are mounted the couplings 15 in a manner to turn on the shaft whenthe beams are raised and lowered. The 95 beams are connected to thesecouplings. The beams may be of any conventional type but are preferablymade each of a pair of bars 16 suitably braced together and bothequipped with clamps 17 which carry conventional standards 18 to whichthe usual shovels are attached. The beams are further equipped withdraft hooks 19 connected with draft links 20 to which is attached adrafttree 21. In this way the draft strains are applied to the archthrough the links 13 and the con nections described and also applieddirectly to the beams through the hooks 19, links 20 and tree 21.

The features so far described are essentially conventional.

I will now refer to the features phich enter into this preferred form ofconstruction by which my invention carried. into effect. These comprisethe forward links 22 pivoted at 23 to the side bars 3 of the main ordraft frame. These links have extensions 24 provided with a series ofnotches for connection with springs 25 whose other ends are anchored tothe arch or main frame by projections 26 extending from the clips 4. Thefunction of these springs is to aid in lifting the shovel beams bydrawing rear wardly on the link extensions and forwardly on the otherends of the links 22 which has the effect of elevating the yoke 27 whichis attached to a cross bar 28 that extends from one link 22 to theother. The yoke is pivoted at 29 and at its end is provided withopenings through which extend beam rods 30 which at their lower ends arehooked to the beams and at their upper portions are equipped withadjustable collars 31, one collar above the yoke and one below on eachrod. Coil springs encircle the rods, one spring .32 between the lowercollar and the yoke and another spring 33 between the upper collar andthe yoke, on each rod. The function of these springs is to permit thetwo rods to vieldingly slide through the openings in the yoke: and theparticular function of the upper springs is to allow the rods to yielddownward. when the beams are being depressed to working position and toreact and lift on the rods when the beams are being elevated and thusaid in the effort of the driver to lift the beams.

The purpose in pivoting the yoke 27 to the cross bar 28 is to aid thedriver-in letting one beam down further than the other if cultivating onan incline. as a hillside. And it'will be noted too that the cross bar23. at the part where the yoke is pivoted thereto. is set considerablyback or to one side of the pivots 23 of the links 22. which constitutesa sort of lever of this bar 28 which has the effect of tending to turnthese links on their centers and to cause their extensions to create atension on the beam-lifting springs 25, whereby these springs actthrough the links. the bar 28, yoke 27. and rods 30 to suspend the beamsin what may be called a floating manner, as indicated in Figure Again,when the driver lifts on. the handles 34 to raise the beams thesesprings 25 through their contracting action materially aid in elevatingthe beams; or, indeed, pract-ically lift them if their tension isadjustedv high enough for that purpose, which may be done through thehooks 35 which connect the springs with the clips 4 and are adjustablethrough the nuts 36.-

It will now be seen that the bnnns are or may be suspended by the actionof the springs 25 operated through the links 22 and the connection ofthe yoke therewith and of the beam rods 30, and that when the beams aredepressed by the driver through the handles 34 and. the stirrups 37(either or both), the springs 25 will expand and permit this action. andwill lift more or less on the beams while the shovels are in the ground,leaving it to the option of the driver to depress the shovels more orless by the pressure he exerts on the beams through the stirrups. or ifneed be in particular cases, through the handles also.

Referring now to .the seat frame, it will be seen that it comprises sidebars 38 which converge toward their rear ends to which theseatextensions 39 are secured by apivot bolt 40. A stop pin 41 may beadjusted into either of the holes 42 so as to adjust the forward end ofthe extension 89 up or down to lower or raise the seat 43. The seat andits extensions may be thrown forward past and above the frame bars 88 byturning the eXtension 39 on the bolt 40, a feature of convenience whenthe machine is to be stored in an implement shed when not in use or isto be shipped.

The forward ends of the seat bars 38 are turned upward to properlyposition them to be pivoted to the links 22 by clips or bolts 22.Further rearward the seat frame bars are provided with brackets 44 toconnect the bars pivotally with the rear links 45 through pivot bolts46. These links 45 are pivoted to the main frame or arch through a rockshaft 47 carried by bearings 48 extending from the clips 4. But anyother form of pivotal connection between the general frame and theselinks may be used.

It will now be seen that the seat frame is pivotally supported on themainor draft frame and is capable of being adjusted forwardly orrearwardly so as to increase the weight on the main frame forward of theaxle and thereby decrease it at the rear thereof, or to increase it atthe rear and thereby decrease the weightforward thereof. It will furtherbe noted than by reason of the connections described between the beamsand the seat frame, namely the forward links. the lever-like cross bar28. the yoke 27 and the beam rods 80, the seat frame and beams move inunisonthe frame forwardly when the beams are raised and rearwardly whenthe beams are depressed, so that when the beams are in their highest orelevated position the seat frame is in its most for- Imogene wardPosition, ancl when the ,beams'; are in their lowest or; cultivatingposition,- the seatframe 1 is in its: furthest rearward position.

In efl ecti ng these movements and changes of position the beam lif 'ngspriirgs-Qd'fiure tion in aid of elevating the beams and positionin'ggthe seat frame forwardly, yet permit the-reverse of theseITIOVGHIQIIi'S of the beams and seat' frame:- I

While I-prcf'er to connect-:the seati frantic to the general frame bymeans of'ithe swing= ing links deseribecbstill Ilwish to be under-StOOCthSIlOt limiting mysel-f to such a means of: connection: between.the two; frames so long as there; is. :preservedi such interconnew tionbetween: the seat. frame and the: beams as that when the driver causesorrpermits the beams to: raise, the seatframe will advance forwardly byreason of connectionsbetween it:andthebeams; andvice versa, when: thedriven returns. thebeams to?" present the shovels; to. the ground hewill thereby, through: theconnections between the beams and:therseatframe; cause the seat frame to assume its rcarwarctf position,

InmyrPatent No. 1,576,650; datedzMarch 16, 199-6, and in my laterapplication, Serial No.. 13,717. filed March. 7, 13925,. I have shownand described seat frames adjustable forwardly to lift the beams andrearwardly to let the beams down, the seat frame itself being the partprimarily actuated for that purpose by means of a lever operated to movethe seat frame to its differentpositions and in doing so to raise andlower the beams, the seat frame itself being the manually operatedelement. But in the present case the beams are the elements which areoperated and whose movements effect the movements of the seat frame. Sothat in the former applications the seat frame operated the beams, whilein the present application the beams operate the seat frame. I regardmyself to be the first to accomplish this latter operation with itsresulting advantages and efliciency in the practical use of Cultivators.

In order to adjust the couplings 15 with their beams nearer to, orfurther from, each other I provide a lever 1 pivoted to a bracket 52"secured to the rod 14 and having links 3 which connect with thecouplings 15 to so adjust them. A series of perforations l in thebracket are adapted to receive one end of one of the links 3 in order tolock the lever 1 in adjusted positions This is not a feature of thepresentinven tion but is one I prefer to use.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a cultivator, the-combination with a wheeled draft frame andshovel beams carried thereby and adapted to act as means for positioningthe seat frame, of a seat frame,

and: connections between the sea-t frame and! connectionsincludingsprings-which act in:

one direction to lift on" the bea-insiand' in the other -direction: topermit the beams tube lowered;

2. In cultivator, the combination with a wheeled draft frame and shovelbeams car= ried thereby and adapted 'to actas means forpositionin-gtheseat frame andfmeans wh-iclrthe beams may be elevated andlowered, of a seat frame; links which connect said frame to: the main:frame and permit' it to move forwardly and rearwardly, and" connectionsbetweensome of the links and the beams whereby such" frame is advancedforwardly when thebeams are raised and rearwardly when thebeamsare-lowered 3a In acu ltivato-r, the combination with a wheeleddraft frame and shovel beams-car ried thereby and adapted to-act asn'ieans for positioning the seatfiame, of an seat frame, links whichconnect sa'eid frame to mainframe and permit it to be moved for ward lyand rearwardly, and coimections be tween some of the linksand" thebeamswhereby such frame is advanced forwardly when the beams are raised, andrearwardly when the beams are lowered, and springs connected to the mainframe and to such links and acting to exert an elevating force on thebeams and at the same time a forward movement on the seat frame.

at. In a cultivator, the combination with a wheeled main frame and beamsconnected thereto, of a seat frame, links which connect the seat framewith the main frame, a leverlike member connected with the link struc:ture, and connections between such member and the beams, whereby whenthe beams are elevated the lever-like member is operated and the linkstructure is caused to move the seat frame forwardly.

5. In a cultivator, the combination with a wheeled main frame and beamsconnected thereto, of a seat frame, links which connect the seat framewith the main frame, a leverlike member connected with the linkstructure, connection between such member and the beams, and springsconnected to the main frame and to the link structure and adapted toexert a lifting force on the beams, whereby when the beams are elevatedthe lever-like member is operated and the link structure is caused tomove the seat frame forwardly.

6. In a cultivator, the combination with a wheeled main frame and beamsconnected thereto, of a seat frame, links which connect the seat framewith the main frame, a yoke having a lever-like connection with one pairof said links, andconnections between such yoke and the beams, wherebywhen the beams are elevated the yoke is actuated and such pair of linksare operatedto cause the seat a frame to move forwardly.

V '7. In a cultivator, the combination with a wheeled main frame andcultivator beams carried thereby, and having handles, of a seat f'ame,links pivotally connecting the seat frame with the main frame, aleverdike member extending from two of the links, rods which connectwith saidmember and with the beams, and springs which exert a liftingforce on said pair of links and cause them, through their connectionswith the beams, to lift the beams and also cause them to advance theseat forwardly.

8. In a cultivator, the combination with a wheeled" main frame and beamscarried thereby and having handles and stirrups, of a seat'frame havinga seat at one end, links pivoted to the main frame and to the other endof the seat frame, one pair of such links having a lever-like member, ayoke pivoted to such member, rods yieldingly connected with said yokeand attached to the beams, and springs anchored to the main frame andconnected with said lever-like member through said pair of links,whereby said lever-like member iscaused to lift on the beams throughsaid connections and whereby said pair of links are ceased to thenadvance the seat frame forwardly.

9. In a cultivator, the combination with an arched wheeled frame, across shaft thereon, beams coupled to said shaft and adapted to beraised and lowered and having handles and stirrups, of a seat framehaving a seat positioned near said handles, links pivoted to the mainframe and to the seat frame, one pair of the links having a lever-likememher, a yoke pivoted thereto, rods slidably mounted in the yoke andattached to the beams, stops-on said rods and springs between the stopsand the yoke, and lifting springs attached to the main frame and toextensions on said pair of, links, all for the purpose described.

10. In a cultivator, the combination with a main frame, of a pair oflinks pivoted to the frame and having portions which extend above andbelow the pivots, a lever-like cross-bar connected. torsaid links andextending rearwardly, and a yoke pivoted to the lever-like bar andadapted at its ends to be connected to beanrlifting rods. 7

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

RICHARD H. GRIFFITH.

